Formable cellular material with synclastic behavior

Abstract

Cellular material formed from a plurality of component strips each comprising alternate ridge portions and groove portions interconnected by step portions, the step portions comprising a first riser, a second riser, and a furrowed step surface. The furrowed step surface has at least one indentation formed therein, preferably two oppositely-directed semicircular indentations. The resulting interconnected array of substantially identical cell units defines a sheet of cellular material exhibiting highly synclastic behavior. In an alternate embodiment, the step portion is replaced by a slope portion having at least one semicircular indentation formed therein. A method of fabrication of the novel cellular material is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Cellular material comprising: a plurality of component strips, each of said strips having alternate ridge portions and groove portions interconnected by step portions, said strips being arranged in a stacked array with the ridge portions of each component strip facing the groove portions of an adjacent component strip, and means for fastening at least some of said ridge portions to some of said groove portions, at least one of said step portions of each component strip comprising a furrowed step surface having a first end and a second end, a first riser extending upwardly from said groove portion to said first step surface end and being contiguous with said groove portion and said first step surface end, and a second riser extending downwardly from said ridge portion to said second step surface end and being contiguous with said ridge portion and said second step surface end, wherein said cellular material exhibits synclastic behavior and said at least one furrowed step surface facilitates simultaneous expansion and contraction of said cellular material during exhibition of said synclastic behavior.   
     
     
       2. Cellular material as recited in claim 1, wherein said furrowed step surface comprises a surface having at least one substantially semicircular indentation formed therein.   
     
     
       3. Cellular material as recited in claim 2, wherein said furrowed step surface has a first substantially semicircular indentation formed therein at said first end thereof, and a second semicircular indentation formed therein at said second end thereof.   
     
     
       4. Cellular material as recited in claim 3, wherein said first substantially semicircular indentation is upwardly-directed toward said ridge portion, and said second substantially semicircular indentation is downwardly directed toward said groove portion.   
     
     
       5. Cellular material as recited in claim 3, wherein said first and said second substantially semicircular indentations are each formed in the same direction.   
     
     
       6. Cellular material as recited in claim 2, wherein said furrowed step surface has a substantially sinusoidal shape.   
     
     
       7. Cellular material as recited in claim 1, wherein said furrowed step surface comprises a surface having at least one crease formed therein.   
     
     
       8. Cellular material as recited in claim 7, wherein said furrowed step surface is substantially rimpled, having a plurality of creases formed therein.   
     
     
       9. Cellular material as recited in claim 1, wherein said ridge portions of said components strips are welded to said groove portions of said adjacent component strips.   
     
     
       10. Cellular material as recited in claim 1, wherein said ridge portions of said component strips are fastened to said groove portions of said adjacent component strips with adhesive.   
     
     
       11. Cellular material comprising a plurality of cell units each having a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional configuration, arranged in a matrix array of rows of interconnected cell units, each cross-shaped cell unit being defined by an upper arm, a lower arm, and first and second lateral arms, at least one cell unit of each row having at least one furrowed wall, wherein said cellular material exhibits synclastic behavior and said at least one furrowed wall facilitates simultaneous expansion and contraction of said cellular material during exhibition of said synclastic behavior. 
     
     
       12. Cellular material as recited in claim 11, wherein said furrowed wall comprises a surface having at least one substantially semicircular indentation formed therein.   
     
     
       13. Cellular material as recited in claim 11, each of said first and second lateral arms having upper and lower walls, each of said upper and lower walls having an inner end and an outer end and having an inwardly-directed substantially semicircular indentation formed therein at said inner end thereof, and an outwardly-directed substantially semicircular indentation formed therein at said outer end thereof. 
     
     
       14. Cellular material as recited in claim 11, each cross-shaped cell unit having a width, a height, and a width-to-height ratio, the width-to-height ratio being from about 5:1 to about 1:5. 
     
     
       15. Cellular material as recited in claim the width-to-height ratio being about 1:1. 
     
     
       16. Cellular material comprising: a plurality of component strips, each of said strips having alternate ridge portions and groove portions interconnected by slope portions, said strips being arranged in a stacked array with the ridge portions of each component strip facing the groove portions of an adjacent component strip, and means for fastening at least some of said ridge portions to some of said groove portions, at least one of said slope portions having at least one indentation formed therein, wherein said cellular material exhibits synclastic behavior and said at least one indentation facilitates simultaneous expansion and contraction of said cellular material during exhibition of said synclastic behavior.